Cancer is a horrible disease...there are so many types and so many people suffer and die from this.  It doesnt just affect the people that have it but also their families.  My grandfather has cancer and it has affected our family more and more each day.  I am given the opportunity to make a diffrence. I want to raise money and try to help the national cancer society...I pray they can find a cure very soon.... 

       I love my grandfather very much and HE is my reason.....If you know someone that has cancer...or sadly have lost someone to this disease...or you are a Cancer Survivor...Join me in this beautiful cause and donate to SAVE LIVES...

       This if for you GRRRRANDAD!!!!!!!  =o) I Love you!

Hello Everyone!  This is my story.... I was a "tan worshipper"  all my life, the darker the better.  I did the tanning beds and stayed outdoors as much as I could.  I did so without sunscreen, because I didn't think that I was the typical candidate for skin cancers.  Guess what?  I was so wrong, and my life is now at risk because of it!  I was first diagnosed with malignant melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) in August of 2004.  I was treated with surgical removal at that time, and was told that I caught it early.  I should be okay, I would just have to see the doctor every 3 months for monitoring.  Here I am, I had recovered, and I am living life.  I was taking my life for granted.  I never thought that what I was about to experience would ever happen to me.  Again, there is that mentality, "not me"! In July of 2007, in a matter of 4 days, I had a large knot appear on my left inner thigh/groin area.  This was the side that I first had the melanoma, uh oh, could it be, surely not!  Those were my thoughts.  In fear, I contacted my doctor, and the process began.  A week later, I received the call, "Darci, it is melanoma, and we need to get you into surgery right away!"......  My world changed in a blink of an eye.....  I had surgery 3 days later.  Once I healed from that, I began Immunotherapy.  This has been the hardest time of my life, and believe me, I have had to struggle all my life with issues!  But, this, this cancer, has dealt me another blow, and a forceful one.   I continued my treatment as ordered, and faced so many harsh side effects, sometimes thinking to myself, "I am dying, I literally feel like I am dying!"  I was taken off the Interferon therapy after 4 months of treatment, due to the ill effects that it was doing to my body.  I was supposed to have a full 1 yr. course of this treatment, but that is not occuring.  This was the only treatment that my Oncologist could offer me, and the rate of success in keeping the melanoma at bay, was only 10-15%! Not much huh?!  No, but it is the only thing that I could do, to keep me from going into stage IV.  I am now, stage III. The problem is that there isn't enough out there for us Melanoma patients.  There are clinical studies, and this is a hope for me!  I want to live life for a long, long time!  I want to do all that I can to survive this disease!  I want others who suffer with this deadly disease to be able to do the same!  So, besides my fighting for my own life, I want to fight for others also...  So, my starting point is to educate and getting the facts known!  Everyone automatically understands what a pink ribbon represents, and I want the same for the Black Ribbon!!!  Black stands  for "Black Tumor", this is Melanoma, so let's sport the black too!!!  It is a neutral color and goes with everything that you wear!!!!!!!  Also, the Weeping Willow is a symbol for Melanoma, just a little tid-bit!! Educate your family and friends on this deadly disease, and don't think that it can't happen to you!  I am a perfect example to that!  You can and you could possibly, so please, don't chance it!  Your life is so much more important than anything else in life!!!!  Enjoy it, and never take it for granted.....  Darci

Hello Everyone!  This is my story.... I was a "tan worshipper"  all my life, the darker the better.  I did the tanning beds and stayed outdoors as much as I could.  I did so without sunscreen, because I didn't think that I was the typical candidate for skin cancers.  Guess what?  I was so wrong, and my life is now at risk because of it!  I was first diagnosed with malignant melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) in August of 2004.  I was treated with surgical removal at that time, and was told that I caught it early.  I should be okay, I would just have to see the doctor every 3 months for monitoring.  Here I am, I had recovered, and I am living life.  I was taking my life for granted.  I never thought that what I was about to experience would ever happen to me.  Again, there is that mentality, "not me"! In July of 2007, in a matter of 4 days, I had a large knot appear on my left inner thigh/groin area.  This was the side that I first had the melanoma, uh oh, could it be, surely not!  Those were my thoughts.  In fear, I contacted my doctor, and the process began.  A week later, I received the call, "Darci, it is melanoma, and we need to get you into surgery right away!"......  My world changed in a blink of an eye.....  I had surgery 3 days later.  Once I healed from that, I began Immunotherapy.  This has been the hardest time of my life, and believe me, I have had to struggle all my life with issues!  But, this, this cancer, has dealt me another blow, and a forceful one.   I continued my treatment as ordered, and faced so many harsh side effects, sometimes thinking to myself, "I am dying, I literally feel like I am dying!"  I was taken off the Interferon therapy after 4 months of treatment, due to the ill effects that it was doing to my body.  I was supposed to have a full 1 yr. course of this treatment, but that is not occuring.  This was the only treatment that my Oncologist could offer me, and the rate of success in keeping the melanoma at bay, was only 10-15%! Not much huh?!  No, but it is the only thing that I could do, to keep me from going into stage IV.  I am now, stage III. The problem is that there isn't enough out there for us Melanoma patients.  There are clinical studies, and this is a hope for me!  I want to live life for a long, long time!  I want to do all that I can to survive this disease!  I want others who suffer with this deadly disease to be able to do the same!  So, besides my fighting for my own life, I want to fight for others also...  So, my starting point is to educate and getting the facts known!  Everyone automatically understands what a pink ribbon represents, and I want the same for the Black Ribbon!!!  Black stands  for "Black Tumor", this is Melanoma, so let's sport the black too!!!  It is a neutral color and goes with everything that you wear!!!!!!!  Also, the Weeping Willow is a symbol for Melanoma, just a little tid-bit!! Educate your family and friends on this deadly disease, and don't think that it can't happen to you!  I am a perfect example to that!  You can and you could possibly, so please, don't chance it!  Your life is so much more important than anything else in life!!!!  Enjoy it, and never take it for granted.....  Darci

If you could please take a minute to read the plea for help!! I am not attempting to solicit, so please do not take this as such, I am merely reaching out to my community for a great cause!...  I have taken on a position working with the American Cancer Society on the Relay for Life committee.

I am working / walking in the honor and memory of by beloved grandmother, Joyce Ann Tsai.

 Every last one of us has in one way or another been touched by cancer. Be it a grandparent, parent, child, neighbor, or friend, are all aware of the horrendous nature of this disease. It does not discriminate, nor does it overlook anyone…

Not so sure what the Relay for Life is all about? Well, Relay for Life is brought to you by the American Society, representing hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.

almost everyone is connected to someone who has been touched by cancer my grampa has prostate cancer. and if you think about it you will see you to have connections to someone who has cancer it whether it is breast cancer or rectal cancer you can help save lifes if you donate! 

We are currently having a t-shirt design contest for the team shirts we'll wear at the Relay event. One person used the wording "Relay4Life" as part of the design. We'd like to know if this is allowed. Would it be better if he uses the logo instead, or the correct wording of "Relay For Life" or nothing at all? What do other teams do?

We were planning to sell extra shirts as a fundraiser, so I don't know if that makes things more complicated.

Okay, I am finally getting settled.  Over the past 2 months I have moved twice and been without internet off and on.  And then there are the two jobs.  When I am not working or sleeping, I am working on the Relay For Life^®. 

The Relay For Life^® of Merced is almost here.  April 26-27.  There is a lot to get done before that time.  I am working on a Relay Almanac for participants.  It's basically the same as a Relay Passport or the Relay Guide I made for the Atwater event last year.  However, it will be designed to mimmic an almanac.  I am working with the Entertainment Chairs and teams to get the mission delivery activities planned.  And then there is the Fight Back & Closing Ceremonies.  We are combining the two into one and I have asked for the responsibility of planning it.  So much to do with so little time left. 

Hi!

My name is Mike Dailey, and I'm the Vice Chair for RFL of Eastern Michigan University.

I'm trying to help our Online chair out. Neither one of us can figure out how to get our sponsoring companies logos to go under "Our Sponsors" on the main site, and we were wondering if anyone out there could help us??

Thanks!

So far, we have started to establish our team and everything (which is good) but we have a dilemma. In order for us to register a team, it's going to cost us an extra $100 if we do it by the 14th and $125 after that date! We need all the help we can get! We really need ideas to get the money and quick. NOTHING ILLEGAL AND NOTHING THAT WILL COST US MONEY! HELP!

Hello fellow Relayers.

I just wanted to share my appreciation for everything all of you are doing to help get rid of cancer. May everyone accomplish what you set out to do and have an outstanding Relay.

I share this in Honor of my best freind Michael whom I held his had as cancer took his life, I was 11 y/o. In honor of my Grandfather who showed me how to face the world and appreciate it and when he lost his battle with cancer, this world lost a great man. Today I am able to walk with my sister-in-law in the survivor lap each year. For the doctors who told my wife she had lung cancer and took care of it, she is by myside today. For my grandson whom I hope will never have to face these life tragities.

May God grace be with all of you.

Sincerely,

A life a new 

Ric Navarro Sr.

Can someone tell me how they used the stars of remeberance? Did you sell them at the relay, just have people pick them up at the relay when they registered, or what did you do? Thanks!!

Hello out there.  I know there is a date, but I can't remember right now.  Even though out Relay may end June 1st - what is the RFL fiscal year end?   So that I can tell TC that people can continue to give up until, to count towards their goal.

 Thanks for your input, I'm sure someone out there knows, Dawn :-)

You can post here or email me back directly: bow@att.net